24-year-old captain who was reduced to tears at the end of the 90 minutes. At the end of the 2011–12 season, Portsmouth were relegated to League One, due to the financial problems at the club it was announced that Pearce would have to be sold to raise funds for the club. In April 2012, at the end of season awards, Pearce won seven out of the nine available supporters awards. Leeds United On 4 May 2012, Pearce signed for Leeds United for an undisclosed fee on a four-year contract, becoming the club's first signing of the summer transfer window. Leeds manager Neil Warnock revealed that he tried previously to sign him while he was at Queens Park Rangers and also tried sign him on loan in March, after he had joined Leeds. Following his transfer, Portsmouth administrator Trevor Birch defended the cut-price deal which saw him join Leeds as he explained that such measures are necessary to keep relegated Pompey afloat. Pearce made his competitive début for Leeds in the first game of the season against Shrewsbury Town in the League Cup on 11 August. Pearce made his league debut for Leeds their 1–0 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers. He put in an impressive performance and received the man of the match award. With regular captain Lee Peltier out injured, Pearce was named captain for Leeds' 2–1 League Cup victory against Premiership side Everton on 25 September. Pearce also picked up a head injury in the same game which required stitches. Pearce received a straight red card against Watford on 10 November, the red card would result in a three-match ban. After his red card, Leeds signed Alan Tate to cover Pearce's absence, however due to Tate's form, Pearce lost his place in the side upon return from suspension. Following the arrival of Brian McDermott as manager and initially an injury to captain Lee Peltier. Pearce finished the season as the regular central defensive partner to Tom Lees. He scored his first goal for the club on 5 October, in a 3–1 defeat against Derby County. Pearce was awarded the man of the match award against Queens Park Rangers on 1 March 2014 in a 1–1 draw, up to this point in the season, Pearce had played every single minute of the 2013/14 season for Leeds with a string of impressive individual performances. Pearce, missed the following game against Bolton Wanderers